Tag: hiking

One of the great things about living in Southern California is the proximity of open space to just about all developed areas. I live in Los Angeles, and am rarely more than a 30 minute drive from a solid hike in the backcountry. Today, the hiking destination was Las Virgenes Canyon, a hilly area on the west side of the San Fernando Valley.

For much of the year, the SoCal backcountry is yellow, dry, and crunchy, but for a couple of months in the spring, after the winter rains but before the summer heat, there’s a little water and the hills are green flecked with yellow mustard grass.

On today’s hike, I encountered all sorts of creatures – frogs and swarms of tadpoles in small seasonal ponds,hawks, small mammals, and even a very large rattlesnake poking his head out of the bushes on the side of the trail. There’s nothing like almost stepping on a rattlesnake to liven up the senses. From then on, every stick lying on the trail becomes a potential snake…

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While the excitement of adventure is enough to keep us going out, the pleasure of a properly provisioned outing adds the gentlemen to the adventure. I truly felt like a gent when sipping a gin and tonic, ice clinking and lime floating, while enjoying a platter of cured sausages, pate, cheese, olives and a crusty french baguette. I felt like a gentlemen adventurer as I enjoyed those things in the ruins atop Ghost Mountain.

The basic ideas of preparation are as follows. These are ideas from which you can build plans. Plans which you can carry out to glorious success!